Bibliomation
Bibliomation is a non-profit library consortium serving 68 public libraries and 10 K-12 schools in Connecticut through a shared open-source Evergreen integrated library system, statewide union catalog, interlibrary loan, and patron mobile app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersWaterbury, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Bibliomation does
Bibliomation is a non-profit, member-driven library consortium founded in 1980 and headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut. It provides shared technology infrastructure and integrated library system (ILS) services to 68 public libraries and 10 K-12 schools across the state, serving approximately 78 institutional members. The consortium operates on the open-source Evergreen ILS platform and offers a portfolio of sub-branded services including findIT CT (a statewide union catalog), requestIT CT (interlibrary loan), BiblioTech (a hosted library service platform), and the Acorn mobile app for patron access.
The organization partners with the Connecticut State Library, OCLC, Equinox Software, OverDrive, the University of Connecticut, the PINES Consortium, and the broader Evergreen open-source community to deliver shared infrastructure. Its technology stack is centered on the Evergreen open-source ILS, supplemented by statewide catalog and ILL layers, mobile patron access, and digital content distribution through OverDrive.
Bibliomation's business model is membership-based: member libraries pay annual fees for participation in the shared ILS infrastructure and consortium services, with supplemental fee-based offerings such as the Small Libraries Service Module (SLSM) and access to statewide catalog/ILL services for non-members. The organization is staffed by approximately 15 employees, and revenue is not publicly disclosed. The model is structurally low-margin by design, as a non-profit cost-sharing consortium rather than a commercial vendor.
Bibliomation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bibliomation
- Legal name
- Bibliomation, Inc.
- Website
- https://biblio.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bibliomation is a non-profit library consortium serving 68 public libraries and 10 K-12 schools in Connecticut through a shared open-source Evergreen integrated library system, statewide union catalog, interlibrary loan, and patron mobile app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bibliomation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Library Management Software (Integrated Library Systems)
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Interlibrary Loan (ILL) & Resource Sharing Operations (EDAEAGAK)
Keywords
Where Bibliomation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waterbury
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bibliomation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Member Services and Membership Fees: Bibliomation is a member-driven non-profit organization. Membership provides access to the shared ILS, helpdesk support, training, network services, resource sharing, and consortial discounts on databases, barcodes, PCs, and equipment.
- Fee-Based Services for Non-Members: Non-members can access services including Evergreen migrations consultations, Evergreen system administrator training, OverDrive shared ebook collection, BiblioTech support, original cataloging, Evergreen server hosting, and consulting services.
- BiblioTech Technical Support: Fee-based service providing on-site technical support for libraries in all areas of PC and LAN functionality, including software installation, hardware repairs, network maintenance, and technology planning.
- Database Services: MARC records and original cataloging services provided by professional catalogers. OCLC records are sourced for members through consortium membership.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Member Services - Full membership with comprehensive benefits |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Bibliomation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bibliomation operates a shared open source Evergreen Integrated Library System (ILS) for its member libraries, providing cataloging, circulation, OPAC, and resource sharing capabilities. The consortium supplements the core ILS with statewide platforms (findIT CT catalog and requestIT CT interlibrary loan), the Acorn mobile app, professional cataloging services using OCLC records, BiblioTech on-site technical support, and OverDrive shared ebook collections, all delivered to 68 public libraries and 10 K-12 schools throughout Connecticut.
Product overview
Bibliomation is a member-driven, non-profit library consortium providing technological and automation services to 68 public libraries and 10 K-12 schools throughout Connecticut. The organization operates a unified platform architecture built around Evergreen, an open source Integrated Library System (ILS), as its core product. This platform is supplemented by mobile access via the Acorn App, statewide resource sharing through findIT CT (catalog) and requestIT CT (interlibrary loan), and value-added services including OverDrive ebook collections, Database Services (cataloging and OCLC records), Help Desk support, and BiblioTech on-site technical support. The Small Libraries Service Module (SLSM) provides a scaled-down option for smaller institutions. All services are designed for consortium-wide sharing while allowing individual libraries to maintain their own database parameters.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Acorn App: Mobile app for accessing books, DVDs, games, and more on the go, available on Android and iOS.
- BiblioTech
- findIT CT
- requestIT CT
Products and services
- Evergreen ILS State-of-the-art open source Integrated Library System (ILS) used as the consortium's shared cataloging, circulation, and library management platform. Developed by the PINES consortium in Georgia and selected by Bibliomation for its consortium-oriented design.
- findIT CT Open source statewide catalog for Connecticut serving 200+ libraries of all types (public, academic, school, and special). Joint project between Connecticut State Library, Equinox Software, and Bibliomation.
- requestIT CT Statewide interlibrary loan platform built on the same open source infrastructure as findIT CT, enabling resource sharing among over 100 Connecticut libraries.
- Acorn Mobile App Android and iOS mobile application for accessing the catalog and other library information. Available on Google Play and Apple App Store.
- Database Services MARC records sourcing from OCLC, original cataloging by professional catalogers, and acquisitions/serials training in Evergreen. Available to both members and non-members.
- OverDrive Shared eBook Collection Consortial ebook collection available to member libraries, with options for library-specific collections. Offered at consortium discounts.
- Help Desk Services Troubleshooting and technical support for member libraries, including Evergreen help desk and PC/LAN support. Available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- BiblioTech Support Fee-based on-site technical support service covering PC and LAN functionality, including software installation, hardware repairs, network maintenance, and technology planning; available to both members and non-members.
- Small Libraries Service Module (SLSM) Service offering smaller libraries reduced ongoing costs through limited and standardized system configuration while maintaining membership benefits.
- Evergreen Server Hosting Hosting services for Evergreen systems, available to non-members for Evergreen migrations and system administration.
Quantifiable outcome
- Connecticut's largest library automation network
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bibliomation
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bibliomation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature7 records
Bibliomation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- OCLCcoreBibliomation is an OCLC member. Records are sourced from OCLC by their cataloging team, providing members with OCLC-quality cataloging without paying for individual OCLC membership. This partnership ensures record quality and consortium-wide best practices.
- Connecticut State LibrarycoreJoint project with Connecticut State Library and Equinox Software for findIT CT (statewide catalog serving 200+ libraries) and requestIT CT (statewide interlibrary loan platform for 100+ libraries). Both are open source projects.
- Equinox SoftwarecoreJoint development partner with Connecticut State Library and Bibliomation for findIT CT and requestIT CT statewide catalog and interlibrary loan platforms built on open source Evergreen infrastructure.
- Evergreen CommunitycoreBibliomation is an active participant in the Evergreen open source ILS community. They contribute enhancements to the community, each release includes community-agreed changes, and staff are regular presenters at annual Evergreen conferences and active on committees.
- Evergreen Community Development InitiativecoreBibliomation is a member of the Evergreen Community Development Initiative, supporting the development and growth of the open source Evergreen ecosystem.
- University of ConnecticutminorThe Connecticut Digital Archive (CTDA) is a platform provided by the University of Connecticut that allows libraries to preserve digitized content. Bibliomation member library collections can be viewed at digitalcollections.biblio.org.
- OverDrivemajorOverDrive shared ebook collection available to members (with option for library-specific collection) through consortial discount pricing, providing digital content access across member libraries.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bibliomation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Innovative Interfaces: A long-established commercial library automation vendor (Sierra, Polaris, Koha support) competing for the same library technology budgets. Comparable to Bibliomation as a competing ILS provider in the U.S. library market.
- OCLC: A global library cooperative providing cataloging, resource sharing (WorldShare), discovery, and management services. Comparable to Bibliomation as a library cooperative and cataloging partner, but operates at vastly greater scale across the U.S. and globally.
- Ex Libris (Clarivate): A major commercial vendor of library automation systems (Alma, Aleph, Voyager) used by academic and research libraries worldwide. Comparable to Bibliomation as a competing ILS provider, though commercial rather than consortium-based.
Direct peers
- Koha: The most widely adopted open source ILS globally, used by thousands of libraries. Comparable to Bibliomation's Evergreen deployment as the primary alternative open source library automation platform, often considered by libraries evaluating consortium participation.
- LYRASIS: A large non-profit library consortium serving thousands of libraries across the U.S. with shared technology, content, and preservation services. Directly comparable to Bibliomation as a member-driven consortium model offering shared ILS-adjacent services and consortial purchasing.
- Equinox Software: The leading commercial support provider for the Evergreen open source ILS and co-developer with Bibliomation of findIT CT and requestIT CT. Directly comparable as a fellow Evergreen-focused service provider competing for the same library customers.
- Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC): A Connecticut-based library consortium providing collaborative services to academic and special libraries in the state. Comparable to Bibliomation as another regional consortium operating in the same geography, though focused on different library segments.
Regional players
- Minuteman Library Network: A Massachusetts-based consortium of public and academic libraries sharing a unified catalog and resource sharing platform. Comparable to Bibliomation as a regional library network with shared ILS, but operating in a different geography.
- Califa Library Group: A California-based library consortium providing group purchasing, digital content, and shared services to member libraries. Comparable to Bibliomation as a member-driven consortium model, but operating at a larger scale in a different state.
- PALCI (Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium): A Pennsylvania-based consortium of academic libraries providing shared resource sharing, discovery, and content services. Comparable to Bibliomation as a state-level consortium providing shared library technology services, though focused on academic libraries.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bibliomation social profiles
Digital presenceBibliomation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bibliomation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Bibliomation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bibliomation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bibliomation
What does Bibliomation do?
Bibliomation operates a shared open source Evergreen Integrated Library System (ILS) for its member libraries, providing cataloging, circulation, OPAC, and resource sharing capabilities. The consortium supplements the core ILS with statewide platforms (findIT CT catalog and requestIT CT interlibrary loan), the Acorn mobile app, professional cataloging services using OCLC records, BiblioTech on-site technical support, and OverDrive shared ebook collections, all delivered to 68 public libraries and 10 K-12 schools throughout Connecticut.
Is Bibliomation a public or private company?
Bibliomation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bibliomation founded?
Bibliomation was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bibliomation based?
Bibliomation is headquartered in Waterbury, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bibliomation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Member Services and Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are fee-Based Services for Non-Members, biblioTech Technical Support and database Services.
Who are Bibliomation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Innovative Interfaces, OCLC and Ex Libris (Clarivate). Direct peers are Koha, LYRASIS, Equinox Software and Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC). Regional players are Minuteman Library Network, Califa Library Group and PALCI (Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium).
Does Bibliomation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bibliomation.
What industry is Bibliomation in?
Bibliomation's product category is Library Management Software (Integrated Library Systems). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAE, Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation), with a secondary code of EDAEAGAK, Interlibrary Loan (ILL) & Resource Sharing Operations. Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 7370.